India-Myanmar Bilateral Trade (in Million US $) When we visited Moreh, there was some resentment amongst the traders, first regarding the demonetization and second regarding GST. Mr. I. R. Singh of the North East Federation on [International Trade was vociferous about the fact that the Government of India’s decision to impose a 40% tax duty from the 0% had severely hampered the legal trade at the border since November 25, 2016. However, Mr. K. S. Singh of the Dept. of Commerce & Industries, Govt. of Manipur, clarified that the said duty was only on betel nuts. The demonetization move had also greatly hampered the business at the border as a huge amount of money, running up to the tune of some lakh crores got stuck on either side of the border. Source — Champhai Tehsil Map, ” http:/ /www.mapsofindia.com|maps| mizoram| tehsill champhai.html (accessed on 15 May 2017). India and Myanmar entered into a Framework Agreement on Kaladan Multi-Modal Trans: Transport Project which aims to link Kolkata port to Lawngtlai in Mizoram through Sittwe an Paletwa in Myanmar.* The Land Custom Station (LCS) was set up in Zokawthar> in March 2015. I recent years there has been a gradual rise in the percentage of cross border trade between Mizoran and Myanmar.° These factors collectively led to the choice of fieldwork site towards the town o Champhai in Mizoram which is located within 28 km of the Zokawthar border and 192 km fron Aizawl, capital of Mizoram. Table 1 - Seizure Figures in the last 7 years Table 2 — Annual Statement (On Drugs) Seized By Police, Champhai distric Cases have been recorded where the narcotics department have confiscated arms whill looking for drugs. In 2014, the Champhai Police seized 15 AK 47s and ammunitions; in 2015, the uneatthed a cache of US-made M-series weapons, not known to be used by insurgent groups in thi part of the country. Among the drugs, meth has been the biggest source of headache for thi Mizoram Narcotics Department. Meth, commonly known as party drug, is a combination o Ephederin and Pseudophedrine, both of which has been confiscated separately by the Champha police over the last few years (see Table 2). Meth is used in medicines to treat common cold whicl makes it easier to smuggle. Six-seven anti-cold tablets have enough ephedrine to produce one metl tablet, which is popped or inhaled. While the anti-cold medicines are smuggled into Shan state o Myanmar after being procured from Kolkata and Guwahati, after processing the drugs are stored i1 Falam from where they ate smuggled back into India through Champhai.*° The availability of drug has led to an adverse impact on a section of population in Mizoram; several of the drug addicts fin« their way into rehabilitation centres. Champhai has 4 de-addiction centres. In the interviews polic: officials attributed drug addiction as the prime reason for theft in the localities of Mizoram.*! It order to tackle the drug related cases, Mizoram Assembly passed the Mizoram Drug (Controllec Substances) Bill, 2016, which authorized law enforcement agencies to seize and prosecute peopl
